Tubing control head



A. .1. PENICK ET AL 1,971,381

TUBING CONTROL HEAD Filed May 2, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l gnmnl oos 1 W Y'dLM'Q/L Aug 28, 1934. J PENlCK ET AL 1,971,381

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TUBING CONTROL HEAD Filed May 2, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 jwuwntm W 4. M4 MM, 7 MA Patented Aug. 28, 1934 PATENT OFFICE TUBING CONTROL HEAD Arthur J. Penick and Kirby T. Penick, Houston, Tex.

Application May 2, 1932, Serial No. 608,794 r 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a tubing control head.

An object of the invention is to provide a tubing control head adapted to be attached to a well casing and to support the well tubing and equipped with novel valve mechanism whereby the flow of fluid through the tubing, and through the casing around the tubing, may be readily controlled.

Another object is to provide a tubing control head embodying controlling valve mechanism which comprises a valve casing of a unitary construction having a novel type of valves mounted therein in a novel manner.

Another object is to provide, in a control head of the character described, novel means for locking the valves in a selected position.

Another object is to provide, in a tubing control head, valves so arranged that worn or broken parts may be removed and new parts substituted therefor without interfering with, or stopping, the flow of fluid from the well.

Another object is to provide a control head of the character described of such construction as to prevent leakage of oil or gas, thus lessening fire hazard.

Another object is to provide a control head having means therein for supporting and anchoring the tubing in the well and of such construction that said tubing may be lowered in to the well, or withdrawn from the well, therethrough. 7

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation, and arrangement of parts, an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 shows a side elevation, partly in section, of the control head.

Figure 2 shows a cross sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a side elevation,v partly in section of another arrangement of the valves,

and

Figure 5 shows a side view, partly in section, of still another modification.

In the drawings the numeral 1 designates the tubular body whose lower end may be connected to the well casing 2 in any preferred manner, as by the coupling 3. In this body there is a downwardly converging seat 4 to support the tubing head 5, of tubular formation, from which the well tubing 6 is suspended in the well. A ring nut is screwed into the body 1 and abuts the upper end of the head 5 to anchor the tubing 6 in the well. i

The head 1 has the upper and lower oppositely arranged tubular branches 8, 8 and 9. 9 arranged above and beneath the seat 4, respectively, and whose outer ends are closed by the hollow thimble-like plugs 11, 11 and l2, 12. The branches 8, 9 are formed integrally with the head 1.

Leading out laterally from the branches 8, 8 are the tubular nipples 13, 13 forming connec-- tions for the flow lines (not shown) and suitably anchored in these nipples are the tubular, detachable fiow beans 14, 14 having the inner end seats 15, 15. Attached to the branches 8, 8 opposite the nipples 13, 13 are the tubular housings 16, 16 within which are the axial stems 1'7, 17 which have threaded connections with said respective housings and which work through the stufiing boxes 18, 18 suitably retained in said housings. Attached to the inner ends of the stems 17 are the tapering choke valves 19, 19 adapted to cooperate with, and to open and close the seats 15. These choke valves may be adjusted to control the flow of fluid through the tubing 6; or one of the choke valves may be completely closed and the entire flow of fluid through the tubing 6 may be delivered through the flow line controlled by the other choke valve, if for any reason it may be desired to disconnect the closed line or make repairs thereon.

Leading out laterally from the branches 9, 9 are the tubular nipples 20, 20 forming connections for the flow lines (not shown) from which the oil or gas flowing up through the casing 2 about the tubing 6 may be led off and the inner ends of these nipples 20 forum the valve seats 21, 21. Attached to the branches 9, 9 opposite the nipples 20, 20 are the tubular valve housings 22, 22 wherein the cylindrical, thimble-like valves 23, 23 are mounted to slide. These valves 23 have threaded connections with the inner ends of the valve stems 24, 24. Each stem has an annular rib 25 thereon which runs in an annular, inside groove 26 in the corresponding housing and in the outer end of each housing there is, a stuifing box 27 around the corresponding stem and retained in place by anouter end cap 28 which is threaded onto the corresponding housing 22. The rib 25 fits closely in the groove 26 to prevent leakage of any substantial amount of oil or gas and the corresponding stuillng b0: retains any leakage that may occur past said rib.

The free end of each valve 23 is beveled, as at 29 to form a close fit with the opposing seat 21, when the valve is closed.

Around each housing and retained thereon by the annular rib 30, there is a ring 31, which may be circumferentially adjusted and maintained at any point of adjustment by the set screw 32. On the outer end of each stem 24 there is a jointed crank 33 by means of which the corresponding stem 24 may be turned and its valve opened or closed. Each ring 31 has an outwardly extended lug 34 with which the outer end of the corresponding crank may be brought into adjacent relation, said adjacent parts having holes 35 arranged to register and to receive the heap of a lock 36 whereby the corresponding valve may be locked open or closed.

The fluid flowing up through the casing 2 around the tubing 6 may be relieved through both of said nipples 29, or through only one when repairs,or replacements are to be made in the line leading from the other.

The thimble like plugs provide oil pockets which are filled with oil to form cushions which protect the parts from being cut out.by the grit in the fluid flowing through the head.

On the upper end of the body 1 there is a suitable gate valve 37 which may be opened when it is desired to wash, swab, or work in, the well but which may be closed to direct the flow of the fluid, as desired.

As shown in Figure 4 the bodyis formed of upper and lower sections 38, 39 connected by the reducing nipple 40 and the intermediate gate valve 41 connected to said nipple and to the head section 38, above. In other respects the construction shown in this'figure is similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 3 inclusive.

As shown in Figure 5 the body is formed of upper and lower sections 42, 43 connected by the intermediate gate valve 44. This gate valve is of suflicient dimensions, that, when it is open the tubing 6 may be lowered or removed therethrough.

In this form only the type of valve, designated by the numeral 23 is used both above and beneath the gate valve 44, and these valves may be operated and maintained open or closed by mechanism similar to that shown in the other figures.

Referring again to the form shown in Figure 2 the cylinders 12', 12' are substituted for the plugs 12 of Figure 1 and in these cylinders 12' are the plunger-like valves 45, 45. These valves are threaded onto the inner ends of the valve stems 46, 46 which have swivelling connections with the outer ends of their cylinders and are surrounded by the stuiling boxes as 47 in the outer ends of said cylinders 12' and said stufllng boxes are retained in place by the outer end caps as 48 on the outer ends of the corresponding cylinders. The valve stems 46 may be rotated by hand wheels as 49 or in any other selected manner.

1,971,,sai

The inner ends of the branches 9 have the inside tapering valve seats 50, 50 and the cor:- responding ends oi the valves 45 are tapered to form a close fit with the said opposing seats 50, when the valves 45 are closed. If it be desired to work on a flow line or flow line connection, or torernove or replace the same, the

. corresponding valve 23 may be opened and the corresponding valve 45 closed so as to shut off the flow of fluid and the repairs or replacements may then be accomplished without interference.

The drawings and description disclose what we now consider to be preferred iorms of the invention by way of illustration only, while the broad principle of the invention will be defined by the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. In a tubing control head a tubular body adapted to be attached to a pipe in a well bore, tubular branches formed integrally with, and leading out laterally from, the body and having inside seats, flow tubes leading out from said branches, valve seats at the inner ends or said tubes, valves arranged to cooperate with said branch seats and tube seats alternately whereby the flow of fluid through said branches and tubes may be controlled.

2. In a tubing control head a tubular body adapted to be attached to a pipe in a well bore, a tubular branch formed integrally with and leading out from said body and having an inside annular valve seat, a valve having its inner end tapered and arranged to cooperate with and to open and close said seat, a flow tube leading out from said branch out beyond said seat, a valve seat on the inner end of said tube and a valve arranged to work across said branch to cooperate with and to open and close said last named seat.

3. In a tubing control head, a tubular body adapted to be attached to the top of a pipe in a well bore, a tubular branch formed integrally with and leading out from said body and having a seat adjacent the body, a flow tube leading out from said branch out beyond said seat, a valve seat adjacent the inner end of said tube, a valve housing carried by said branch arranged opposite and in axial alignment with said flow tube, a valve movable axially within said branch and a valve movable axially in said housing and means for actuating said valves whereby they may be alternatively moved into and out of cooperation with the opposing seats whereby said branch and tube may be alternatively opened and closed.

4. In a tubing control head, a tubular body adapted to be attached to a pipe in a well bore, a tubular branch leading out from said body and having an inside annular valve seat, a valve arranged to cooperate with and to open and close said seat, a flow tube leading out from said branch out beyond said seat, a valve seat at the inner end of said flow tube and a valve arranged to work across said branch to cooperate with and to close said last named seat.

ARTHUR J. PENICK. KIRBY T. PENICK. 

